按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
r change which had e over the very noise the wind; drinian cried; 〃all hands on deck。〃 in a moment everyone became frantically busy。 the hatches wet battened down; the galley fire was put out; men went aloft to reef the sail。 before they had finished the storm struck them。 it seemed to lucy that a great valley in the sea opened just before their bows; and they rushed down in it; deeper down than she would have believed possible。 a great grey hill of water; far higher than the mast; rushed to meet them; it looked certain death but they were tossed to the top of it。 then the ship seemed to spin round。 a cataract of water poured over the deck; the poop and forecastle were like two islands with a fierce sea between them。 aloft the sailors were lying out along the yard desperate trying to get control of the sail。 a broken rope stood out sideways in the wind as straight and stiff as if it was poker。
〃get below; maam;〃 bawled drinian。 and lucy knowing that landsmen … and landswomen … are a nuisance to the crew; began to obey。 it was not easy。 the dawn treader was listing terribly to starboard and the deck sloped like the roof of a house。 she had to clamber round to the top of the ladder; holding on to the rail; and the stand by while two men climbed up it; and then get down as best she could。 it was well she was already holding tight for at the foot of the ladder another wave roar across the deck; up to her shoulders。 she was already almost wet through with spray and rain but this was colder。 then she made a dash for the cabin door and got in and shut out for a moment the appalling sight of the speed with which they were rushing into the dark; but not of course the horrible confusion of creakings; groanings; snappings; clatterings; roarings and boomings which only sounded more alarming below than they had done on the poop。
and all next day and all the next it went on。 it went on till one could hardly even remember a time before it had begun。 and there always had to be three men at the tiller and it was as much as three could do to keep any kind of a course。 and there always had to be men at the pump。 and there was hardly any rest for anyone; and nothing could be cooked and nothing could be dried; and one man was lost overboard; and they never saw the sun。
when it was over eustace made the following entry in his diary。
〃3 september。 the first day for ages when i have been able to write。 we had been driven before a hurricane for thirteen days and nights。 i know that because i kept a careful count; though the others all say it was only twelve。 pleasant to be embarked on a dangerous voyage with people who cant even count right! i have had a ghastly time; up and down enormous waves hour after hour; usually wet to the skin; and not even an attempt at giving us proper meals。 needless to say theres no wireless or even a rocket; so no chance of signalling anyone for help。 it all proves what i keep on telling them; the madness of setting out in a rotten little tub like this。 it would be bad enough even if one was with
decent people instead of fiends in human form。 caspian and edmund are simply brutal to me。 the night we lost our mast (theres only a stump left now); though i was not at all well; they forced me to e on deck and work like a slave。 lucy shoved her oar in by saying that reepicheep was longing to go only he was too small。 i wonder she doesnt see that everything that little beast does is all for the sake of showing off。 even at her age she ought to have that amount of sense。 today the beastly boat is level at last and the suns out and we have all been jawing about what to do。 we have food enough; pretty beastly stuff most of it; to last for sixteen days。 (the poultry were all washed overboard。 even if they hadnt been; the storm would have stopped them laying。) the real trouble is water。
two casks seem to have got a leak knocked in them and are empty。 (narnian efficiency again。) on short rations; half a pint a day each; weve got enough for twelve days。
(theres still lots of rum and wine but even they realize that would only make them thirstier。)
〃if we could; of course; the sensible thing would be to turn west at once and make for the lone islands。 but it took us eighteen days to get where we are; running like mad with a gale behind us。 even if we got an east wind it might take us far longer to get back。 and at present theres no sign of an east wind … in fact theres no wind at all。 as for rowing back; it would take far too long and caspian says the men couldnt row on half a pint of water a day。 im pretty sure this is wrong。 i tried to explain that perspiration really cools people down; so the men would need less water if they were working。 he didnt take any notice of this; which is always his way when he cant think of an answer。 the others all voted for going on in the hope of finding land。 i felt it my duty to point out that we didnt know there was any land ahead and tried to get them to see the dangers of wishful thinking。
instead of producing a better plan they had the cheek to ask me what i proposed。 so i just explained coolly and quietly that i had been kidnapped and brought away on this idiotic voyage without my consent; and it was hardly my business to get them out of their scrape。
〃4 september。 still becalmed。 very short rations for dinner and i got less than anyone。
caspian is very clever at helping and thinks i dont see! lucy for some reason tried to make up to me by offering me some of hers but that interfering prig edmund wouldnt let her。 pretty hot sun。 terribly thirsty all evening。
〃5 september。 still becalmed and very hot。 feeling rotten all day and am sure ive got a temperature。 of course they havent the sense to keep a thermometer on board。
〃6 september。 a horrible day。 woke up in the night knowing i was feverish and must have a drink of water。 any doctor would have said so。 heaven knows im the last person to try to get any unfair advantage but i never dreamed that this water… rationing would be meant to apply to a sick man。 in fact i would have woken the others up and asked for some only i thought it would be se